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Perth scraps Lord's Prayer

Perth County council is dropping the Lord's Prayer from council meetings.

County councillors voted 5-4 Thursday to replace the prayer with a moment of silent reflection.

Warden Ian Forrest supports the change. "I am very much a believer in the separation of church and state," he said.

Coun. Julie Behrns said dropping the prayer had been recommended by a council committee within the last couple of years, but the recommendation was not supported by council at the time.

"I don't think there's any question that every council can use all the help they can get," she said, to the amusement of her peers.

Coun. Vince Judge lamented the loss of yet another tradition and Coun. Walter McKenzie suggested leaving the prayer as an option.

"Just to take it out and say the Lord's Prayer will be no more, I'm not comfortable with that," said McKenzie, mayor of Perth West.

In a brief interview, McKenzie said his practice at West Perth is to invite councillors to join him in prayer before the start of council meetings.

Forrest said in an interview that, as a Christian, he firmly believes in the separation of church and state.

"Looking back at our history ever since the Reformation, the countries that have had separation of church and state have had happier states of affairs than those that haven't," he said.

"It certainly is one of the things, unfortunately, that the Americans are struggling with now -- the role of the church in the political process. In my estimation, some of them are going in the wrong direction."

Forrest pointed out there have been times in Canada's history when people of a certain religion were barred from holding office.

He said he realizes many people in the community will have an opposite view to the one he has taken and he understands that.

"My hope is that it doesn't become a divisive issue. And it appears that it's not, on council. People have their personal views."

The warden said he feels it's "very appropriate" for elected or appointed officials to take a moment to reflect.